Circuit closing device



E. S. BOYNTON CIRCUIT CLOSING DEVICE March 5, 1940.

l Filed March 11, 1957 9 n'on wam- ORNEY NVENTOR" Ear 5. Bo

HIS

Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATE s PATENT- OFI-ICE- CIRCUIT CLOSING DEVICE Earl S. Boynton, East Orange, N. J.

Application March 11, 1937, Serial No. 130,264

3 Claims.

tening means, and capable of conforming to the structure to which the device is attached.`

The above features make embodiments of my invention especially useful under condition of exposure to weather of all kinds, `and especially desirable as door-bells.

In attaining the advantages of myinvention, I provide a switch unit having a stationary contact member and a movable contact member spaced apart within an insulated, weather sealed inclosure. Contact between the stated members, without invading the tightness of the sealed chamber, is afforded by a push rod having an end operative against a flexible diaphragm forming a part of the sealed chamber and disposed in proximity to the movable contact member. Pressure on the push rod will displace the flexible diaphragm, and, therewith, will displace the movable contact member to contact position.

The switch unit may be mounted on a base plate, and connection of the movable contact member with a source of electric current may be had through an element securing the switch unit to the base plate.

The push rod is preferably slidably mounted in the base plate; and has, at its free end, a button for exposure through an aperture of a housing, the housing functioning with the base plate to complete the device. The housing desirably has an ornamental exterior configuration and is attached to the base plate in a manner affording ready removal together with concealment of the securing means. p

Preferably the base plate `lits inside the free edges of the housing, the securement being had by one or more snap fasteners whose component elements are affixed, respectively to the base plate and to the inside of the housing. The edges of the housing will then be free for providing a substantially conforming fit against the structure to which the base plate is attached.

In the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention- Fig. l represents a vertical section taken centrally of a preferred embodiment of my device, completely illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, with housingl removed and showing only a portion ofthe base support and push rod.

Fig. 2 represents a section taken on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates in elevation, on a scale slightly reduced over that of Fig. l, the complete device, the exterior housing and base support being shown partly in section to reveal the special fastening means employed.

line 2-2 Fig. 4 represents, on a much reduced scale, a I';

frontelevation of the complete device.

Fig. 5 represents in section a fragmentary detail of a modification of the fastening means securing the ornamental housing to the base support.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to Figs. l through 4 thereof; I0 designates a base plate carrying an electrical switch unit, indicated generally at II. v

The switch unit comprises a movable contact element and a stationary contact element disposed within an insulated enclosure sealed against weather conditions.

The enclosure is preferably formed by placing a circular sheet or diaphragm I2 of flexible, wa-

' ter-proof material, such as soft rubber, in face to face relation with a similarly conflgurated thin plate I3 of electrical conducting material, an internal chamber I4 being provided by an annulus I5 of suitable insulating material disposed in face to face relation with the plate I3, and the enclosure being completed by a disc I6 of suitable insulating material applied inface to face relation with the annulus I5. yThe layers of the en- 4 closing structure, thus provided, may be bonded to one another by a suitable water-proof adhesive such as shellac. The structure thus formed may be secured to the base plate ICIl by means of a plurality of machine screws I1, respectively extending through the layers of the structure and each received by a threaded recess, as at lua., in the base plate I0.

The plate I3 is advantageously a metal stamping having a central, resilient tongue member -I 3a providing the movable contact element. The so provided movable contact element is thus resiliently and electro-conductively secured tothe body proper 4of the plate. Connection with a source of electric current may be had by reason of a snug fit of the plate I3 around one of the machine' screws II serving as a binding post for a lead conductor I8, or by reason of an integral tab extension as at i311, see Fig. 1, extending around the outside of the layers l5 and I6 of insulating material, for intimate contact with the end of the lead conductor i3.

The stationary contact element may be` provided by an element I9 of boltformation having a head I9a disposed inside the chamber I4 for service as the `contact portion, and having a shank |92) extending outside the'unitvfor service as a binding post for receiving the other-lead conductor 20 of the electric circuit.

A push lrod 2l is slidably mounted in a hub-portion Ibof the base plate ID, and has one end terminating in a chamber 22 formed in the base plate at a location opposite the movable contact element I3a of the switch unit. The stated end of the push rod is provided with a ange 2 ia for function as a stop member for limiting the movement of ythe push rod outwardly of the chamber 22. Also, conveniently provided at the stated end of the push rod isa .pressuremember 2lb directed substantially centrally of themovable `conn tact element I 3a. f

,The other end of the push rod carries actuating means. In the present case, the illustrations being directed to an ornamental push button assembly used advantageously in conjunction with a door-bell, the actuating Ymeans takes the form of a push button 23. y f i rPressure exerted on the push button 23` will, through the medium of pressure member 2th, distend the flexible diaphragm l2 inwardly, therewithdisplacing the tongue member, i. e'., movable contact element i3d, into contact positionI with the stationaryv contact element E9e, all as illustrated by broken lines Fig. l, thus completing the electrical circuit...y When the pressure on the push button 23 is removed, the natural resilience of the'tongue member lita will break contact` and .return the push Arod Zito its normal position, as

illustrated by the full lines of Fig, l. n

Weather sealing of the switch unit I i, and intimate contact of the movable contact member with the lead conductor. i8 are maintained and enhanced by theipressure normally exerted by the machine screws I'i in supporting the switch unit on the base plate. Thus a three-fold function is accomplished by` this structural rcharacteristic of the present invention. i

The base plate Eil maybe secured to supporting structure 24 by any suitable means such as the screws 25. v i

. Since the lpush'buttonfassernbly is vexposed to View and usually is a part of the decorative hardware of a building, an ornamental housing 26 is provided forcon'ipletely enclosing the base pla-te., The securernent is preferablysuch as to vafford ready removal and replacement of the housing, concealment ofthe securing means, and a conforming iit with lthe supporting `structure 24. i i i accomplishing the same, I provide the base plate ifi of smaller dimension than the area bounded by the free edges 25a', of the housing so that such edges will remain independent of the base `plate when vthe pushl button is completely assembled. I further provide snap fasteners having their component maie and female ele'- ments aixed, respectively, to the interior of thehousing 26, and to the opposite surface of the -plate i0. In the illustrated embodiment, see `Figs@ 'and 4, there are two snap fasteners spaced apart :along the length of the structure of the snap fasteners.

male elements 2l, 2'! are aiiixed to the inside of the housing 26 for `cooperation with the febetween the housing 26 and the base plate l0 'and substantially centrally of the width.. The

y affording conformation of the free edgesZiar of A the. housing with the surface of the structure 2li, i.

independently of .the position of the base plate thereon. f

AIn Fig. 5-is shown a modication' of the securing means, A lug 3l] having an upwardly inclined terminus 3mi cooperates withv the downwardly inclinedtop wall of a recess 3i provided in the base plate Il); all as a substitute for one The lower Aend ofthe housing 2t' maybe secured by a snap fastener similar to those illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

Whereas this invention has been illustrated and described 'with respect to only one embodiment thereof, it should be clearly understoodthat i many chan-ges may be made in the specific con' struction disclosed without departing :from the spirit of the invention Ias herein set forth broadly stated in the following claims.

I claim: f .,l

. l.. In a circuit closing device, a switch unit mounted on a support, theswitch unit c'omprising a flexible insulating diaphragm disposed Ain aceto face relation with an electrical conducting plate which has a resilient member integral therewith andworking from a substantially cen-f tral perforation inthe plate for service as--a movable contact member; an enclosed chamber formed proximate the resilient member -by insulating walls meeting that portion of the free face of the plate which surrounds-the resilient member; threaded electrical conducting elements extending through the insulating walls, through therpiate, and through the flexible diaphragm,

making electrical connection with theplate and securing the switch unit to the support, theexterior end of one .of said conducting elements being adapted for electrical connection, asta-- ber from the exterior through the insulation, the end within the Ychamber serving as the contact member' and .the exterior end beingadaptedv for electrical connection; and means carried by said support for displacing the exible diaphragm inwardly of the chamber and for therewith forcing the resilient member into contact with` the stationary contact element.

Y 2. In a circuit closing device, a Switch unit comprising a completely enclosed, electrically insulated chamberhaving one wall formed by,rr

an outer flexibleV diaphragm of linsulating material disposed in face to face relation withan" inner plate of electrically conducting material,

the said plate being perforate at a location prox-[W imate the chamber andhaving a tongueformed integral therewith and disposed within vsaid perf oration, 'said .tongue being displaceable `from said perforation for service as a movable contact element; a stationary contact element exl.

position `to the said tongue of the plate and the endwhich extends outside oi the enclosing structure being adapted for electrical. connection;

means associated with vsaid switch unitfor engaging supporting ,structure and for therewith tightly clamping the walls of the enclosing struc- 45 tionary'contact element extending into the chaml.

ture, inclusive of the plate and the exible diaphragm, together, said means making electrical contact with said plate and being adapted for electrical connection.

3. In a circuit closing device, a switch unit mounted on a support, the switch unit comprising an imperforate iiexible insulating diaphragm; an electrical conducting plate disposed in face to face relation with said diaphragm, said plate having a perforation formed substantially centrally thereof; a member disposed within said perforation and resiliently and electro-conductively secured to said plate for service as a contact, movable from said perforation; insulating walls surrounding said central perforation and forming an enclosed chamber thereat; means tightly clamping said flexiblel diaphragm, said plate, and said insulating walls to one another and to said support, said means making electrical contact with said plate and being adapted for electrical connection; a stationary contact element extending through insulation defining said chamber and communicating with said chamber at a location opposite and spaced apart from the movable Contact member of the plate, said' stationary contact element being adapted for electrical connection; and means for displacing said flexible diaphragm inwardly of said chamber and, therewith, the movable contact member of the plate into Contact with said stationary contact element.

\ EARL S. BOYNTON. 

